P.L.A.N.T.S.

Ask a member of our 4-H Junior Master Gardener Day Camp and they can tell you what P.L.A.N.T.S. stands for. If you need a clue, it is the six essential things any plant needs to grow: Place, whether it is in the ground or the appropriate pot and living conditions; Light, every plant needs some type of light source, preferably the sun; Air, every plant needs to breathe and help turn carbon dioxide into oxygen; Nutrients, every plant just like humans needs food; Thirsty, plants need water just like any living thing; Soil, almost all plants need soil to grow in. This is just one of many little things are soon to be certified Junior Master Gardeners learned.

Our youth were very fluid today, focusing on all things water for much of the day. They learned that their bodies are made up of almost 70% water and did the math to figure out how many pounds in each of them is water weight. They also learned about the water cycle and know that when it rains plants drinking of rain water is called transpiration while the water they don’t drink is called run off. That water then evaporates back into the air and comes back down as rain. It sounds complicated, but the youth actually used cookie sheets, bowls, and ice to create their own weather system and even created a cloud. We certainly didn’t stop there, we had to grow with our knowledge and conduct a science experiment on how water moves through flowers by soaking carnations in colored water and watching them change colors. We also made our very own creative rain gauges to measure how many inches of rain we have in the next rain fall.

If you think weather systems and water cycles are all wet there were plenty of other things that we accomplished today. Do you know the parts of a seed? Or why plants and roots grow the way they do? Do you know what insects that have eyes see when they are looking at the world? Our Junior Master Gardeners know the answers to these questions and many more after a day of making bug eyes, recycling two liter bottles into terrariums and repurposing pine cones into feathered friend feeders.

If you think today was busy just wait. We still have our trip to the zoo tomorrow and final activities on Friday before our big graduation! So much more to do before we can graduate. Stay tuned as we share our adventures with you via our blog and our Twitter page.

Life Science Roots of Learning for JMG

It was an early morning for our JMG day campers on Tuesday. We loaded up first thing in the morning to head to Durham to the Life Sciences Museum. Once we unloaded from the vans we loaded ourselves into the Butterfly Pavilion to check out the inhabitants and to see a butterfly release first thing. The entomologist told us that at around 11 in the morning the butterflies are waking up and at their most active and by three in the afternoon they are starting to rest. Several of our campers were treated to the surprise of having a butterfly land on them or walk with them.

From the butterfly pavilion we split up into two groups and headed on our way. We got to visit a small farm animal area complete with pot belly pigs, bunnies, goats, cows, sheep, and a donkey with a ball. Then we checked out some smaller creatures, insects. Not just any insects, we saw things like really big tarantulas, cockroaches, ants, spiders, and even poisonous frogs. Some of our youth took to a microscope to see things like fruit flies, aphids, and larvae.

We visited the past in with the dinosaur trail. Our campers had a chance to mine for fossils. Many came home with pockets full of sharks teeth, coral and sea shells. Then we visited the wild and got fairly close to a bunch of bears, saw foxes, lemurs, and paddled like ducks. As we walked through wetlands we saw giant lilly pads and had a chance to walk to the wind.

Wind is a section of the museum that shows the power of the wind. Everything from mist areas, sailing boats, birds, the power of wings, and sound waves and how they move through the air. The youth also had the opportunity to play with a gigantic conveyor belt that took seed particles up into the air and dropped them, much like the wind does.

After the lessons of the wind we enjoyed the wind as we played in the huge outdoor activity area. Our youth checked out a small garden, climbed on a train, played with sand (not silt and they can tell you the difference), and made music from lots of metal. If that wasn't enough they had the opportunity to go inside and make weather. They made a tornado, learned about fog and weather patterns. Our youth then conducted science experiments on water resistant fabrics and made mechanical contraptions that moved golf balls, and perhaps other things in the future.

Tomorrow we are back at the office having piles of fun as we get down and dirty learning about everything green again tomorrow.

Junior Master Gardeners Start Digging

Monday was the first sprout of our 4-H Junior Master Gardeners Day Camp. 12 youth between the ages of 9-13 arrived ready to get dirty and learn about everything related to green. After starting off making their rules and consequences the youth dug right in and learned about taking soil samples. They split up into three groups and went outside to practice using the soil probe and mixing samples to put in their boxes.

Then back inside to talk high tech plants. Okay maybe not high tech but they were definitely designer plants. The question was asked can every part of a hamburger be grown? Of course, so if this is the case what does a hamburger plant look like? The youth each designed their own version of a hamburger plant and shared their theories on what it would include.

Then after creating plants they had a chance to dissect plants. Flowers to be specific. They youth took apart flowers and greenery to put into a homemade plant press. At the end of the week the youth will use the pressed flowers to create cards, paper and other artwork.

Dissecting flowers was followed by an activity to grow plants. Does it take a special type of container to grow a plant or can you grow it in anything, like maybe an old stocking? Well we will find out in about five days. The youth made grass people, each with their own personality, facial features, and in five days will have all sorts of green grass growing from the top of their heads that can be cut, shaped, and give their little people even more personality. Although lots of fun, the youth learned something in the process, that all plants need four essential things; water, sun, soil and food to survive.

After playing in the dirt it was time to talk germs. Before lunch we talked about where germs come from and how to properly wash our hands. To demonstrate each youth placed a little glow germ gel on their hands and placed them under a black light to see the germs on their hands. Then they ran to the bathroom to wash their hands the proper way before coming back in to check again under the black light to make sure all the germs were gone.

After lunch it was time to get messy again. The youth learned about recycling by making grow cards. They tore up pieces of used paper, placed it in a blender with water and created paper pulp. then they placed the pulp in cookie cutters and pressed the water out of it. The youth then put seeds in the pressed pulp and they have set it aside to dry for the next couple of days before giving their creations as gifts. The recycled grow cards can be planted and the seeds will sprout. The paper is biodegradable and will act as a mulch for the seeds until it dissolves into the soil.

Did you know pineapples grow on trees? Well our Junior Master Gardener Day Campers know this now and how to repot one, and plant a new one. They learned that it will take about two years to grow a pineapple which will probably not be as big as the ones they find in the stores but it will be just as sweet and tasty. After planting the top of our pineapple it seemed only fair that we all sampled some of our fresh pineapple and it was scrumptious.

Plants have more than nutritional power they also have healing power as our JMG's now know. The youth got to examine an aloe plant up close and learned about the healing powers this plant has with burns. Then they dissected some leaves and squeezed the aloe into lotion to create their very own aloe lotion that they took home.

Before the end of the day we took a few moments to play a couple of team working games including human knot. The game allows the youth to work on team building communication, and creative problem solving as they try to untangle themselves without letting go.

Tomorrow we are headed to the Life Sciences Museum in Durham to check out butterflies, insects and all sorts of cool stuff that will help us increase out knowledge.

4-H Debuts at the Downtown Farmers' Market Grand Opening

Many people wonder what the four H's stand for in 4-H. Any present and past member can tell you they stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. In the early days of 4-H boys learned about new ways of growing crops with increased yields as part of boys corn clubs. While girls took part in canning clubs that taught them new and better ways to preserve foods. Now, a hundred years later, we work with youth (both boys and girls) on healthier ways to eat and teaching them about food supplies, and food chains. So it seems rather appropriate that 4-H had the opportunity to debut marketing material as part of the Annual Grand Opening Event at the Robeson County Farmers' Market.

The market sits in the parking lot of the old Agriculture Building on Elm Street in Downtown Lumberton. Approximately a dozen Robeson County Farmers sell everything from flowers to vegetables, fruits to eggs. To sell at the market producers must raise their crops in Robeson County so buyers know that they are buying local, fresh products. Of course tempting people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables is often easier said then done and that is where the Grand Opening event comes in.

Kerrie Roach, the Horticulture Extension Agent works with the Farmers' Market Association to put together the event which includes prizes, free canned drinks, and samples of fresh grilled vegetables, fruits and other local products. Kerrie sets up an information tent where people can learn the hours of the market (Wednesday and Saturday ) sign up to receive updates on the market, and spin a wheel to win free prizes. The prizes ranged from free burlap Farmers' Market shopping bags, to 4-H totes, 4-H pencils and Farmers' Market Bookmarks, coupons for buy a dollar get a dollar of produce, not to mention free produce items from the vendors. Everyone walked away with a prize.

Janice Fields, Family and Consumer Science Agent was on hand to cook up fresh vegetables on the grill and offered samples to Farmers' Market patrons. She had grilled zucchini, squash, eggplant, peppers (green, banana and jalapeno), tomatoes (both red and green), okra, and a combination of all of it in different forms. With the help of her daughter patrons also experienced watermelon spritzers and fresh berry smoothies. If you were looking for something a little sweeter there was a honey mustard pretzel dip made from fresh honey from our local bee keepers. In other words there were plenty of yummy healthy choices for patrons to try and buy to take home.

Of course to make this a big event the Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office pulled out all the big guns. Interim Director, Keith Walters pitched in to help out. Family Consumer Science Agent, Christy Strickland lent both hands, chopping dicing greeting and meeting. Summer Intern Amanda Hoitt jumped right in offering to help spin the wheel, hand out prizes, and even an occasional hug. Volunteers Dennis Watts, Larry Russ, and Zach Roach braved the heat, to take photos, grill, and get us loaded up at the end of the event.

All in all it was a fantastic day that had patrons buying and trying fresh produce, and promoting the Downtown Farmers' Market and 4-H. If you would like more information about the downtown Farmers' Market you can contact Kerrie Roach at Kerrie_Roach@ncsu.edu or become a fan of the Robeson County Farmers' Market Facebook Page.

4-H Member has Hot Opportunity

Christopher Bullard is loving all the doors 4-H is opening for him. Not only did he recently attend 4-H Citizenship Focus North Carolina but he had the opportunity to go to camp. Not any camp. Cooperative Leadership camp held at the FFA Center at White Lake. It is a hot camp for more than just the temperatures.

To attend this sponsored five day camp youth must have a proven record of leadership experiences and potential. It is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in North Carolina but only 150 are chosen for this experience. Christopher said it was, "mostly fun, with a lot of challenging activities." This is no surprise since the camp is focused on team work, developing leadership skills, and learning about the free enterprise system. During the camp the youth actually create their own T-Shirt Cooperative and assign jobs and duties that allow them to test their leadership skills. The camp is not all work. They do have time to enjoy the incredible lake, take part in a talent show, and a dance.

By attending the camp Christopher is now eligible to apply for a $1,000 Jim Graham college scholarship when it comes time to go to college. The camp is put together by the Cooperative Council of North Carolina. The five day camp takes place annually. For more information please contact the 4-H office at (910) 671-3276.

Robeson County brings home Gold, Silver and Bronze from District

You should have seen it. A contingency of almost 50 from Robeson County arrived at District Activity Day in Lee County and boy oh boy were we hot! It wasn't just the heat of the day that zapped us as we got out of the vans at Southern Lee High School in Sanford, it was the heat of the competition that had us raring to go.

For those who do not know, 4-H District Activity Day is an annual event where youth from 15 counties come together to compete in Public Speaking and Presentations. Public Speaking consist of 5-10 minute original speeches that they youth research, write and deliver. Presentations are where the youth create posters or PowerPoint presentations and use them as part of a demonstration speech. The top two youth in each age division and category go forward to represent the South Central District at the state competition in Raleigh next month as part of 4-H Congress.

To go to District Robeson County 4-H members had to win gold or silver on the county level as part of County Activity Day and come in to practice before going on to District Level competition. Representing Robeson County in Public Speaking in the 9-10 age division was Michicko Hill of the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club. In the 11-13 year old age division Alexus Jones of the Inspirational Youth Leaders and Kyasia Simmons of Spiritual Generations 4-H Clubs went head to head. In the Senior Division (14-19 years old) Christian McRae of the Young Leaders 4-H gave his Robeson County best in a tough competition. In Presentations Megan Butler, of the St. Pauls 4-H Pony Club competed in the 9-10 age division in the very tough Horse category. Her club mates Taylor and Caylee Holden gave a team horse presentation in the 11-12 age division. Megan Hurst of the Horsin' Around 4-H Horse club and the "Dirty Rascals" Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club, competed in the 11-13 age division in the Small and Companion Animals category. Jaylyn McNair of the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club was also in the 11-13 age division, competing in Chicken Bar-B-Que, an outdoor cookery event. Shawndora McNair rounded out the presenters by competing in the 14-19 age division in the Health and Fitness category. Rounding out the day were our two high point winners from 4-H Entertains, Maurice Rogers and Christian McRae who both sang as part of 4-H Entertains.

After a day of speaking, listening, and running between classrooms trying to make sure each of our speakers had a friendly audience it finally came down to the awards. As categories were announced 4-H Agents, volunteers and parents ran to the gym floor to take pictures of all the winners. First ones recognized were our first timers. Each youth who competed for the first time received a pin commemorating their first time experience. For Robeson County our first timers included Megan Butler, Alexius Jones, Kyasia Simmons, Caylee and Taylor Holden, Jaylyn and Showndora McNair, and Christian McRae. Walking away with blue ribbons for Entertains were Maurice Rogers and Christian McRae. In Public Speaking Kyasia Simmons won bronze, Alexus Jones won silver and Michicko Hill brought home the gold. Shawndora McNair won bronze, Caylee and Taylor Holden as well as Megan Hurst won silver and Jaylyn McNair brought home the gold with his chicken Bar-b-Que. That means Alexus Jones and Michicko Hill will represent Robeson County and the South Central District in Public Speaking at state. Caylee and Taylor Holden, Megan Hurst and Jaylyn McNair will represent us at state in Presentations.

However these were not the only awards presented. Robeson County also took home the District Scrapbook award thanks to the hard work of our scrapbook committee headed up by 4-H Volunteer Libby Burney. Mrs. Burney accepted the award on behalf of the county. If you would like to see our award winning scrapbook it is currently on display in the waiting area of our Extension office.

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to all the volunteers, parents and staff who took the day to judge, be in charge of rooms, and support our youth as part of this incredible experience. Stay tuned, we will give you information about state competition coming up the end of July.

Talk about 4-H Green

More and more these days we are hearing stories about how 4-H is impacting individuals, communities, and now the environment. Below is a link to an incredible story about a young Florida 4-H member and how her 4-H project may help rebuild coral reefs when the oil leak is finally stopped in the Gulf of Mexico.

Click here to see this amazing story that aired on the CBS evening news this week. Or you can read about this work by clicking on this link. Imagine the impact you might have while studying something that interests you. Keep up the good work 4-H'ers!

Certified Babysitters looking for Work

Robeson County 4-H's Summer Fun program kicked off in May with our 4-H Etiquette Day Camp. Only followed by our soon to be annual Babysitting Recertification Day Camp. To be eligible for this day camp you had to be certified last year in our first ever mini babysitting day camp.

Six youth returned this year to recertify in CPR. Pat Smart, the director of the Robeson County Red Cross, came in to conduct this official certification. After a day of refresher in child and infant CPR our six experienced babysitters took their written and practical tests (the same ones the adults take). We are proud to say that they passed with flying colors.

When we were done we play an Etiquette board game, which refreshed them on the manners of working with others, proper business manners (such as you can not ditch a job just because you have a better offer, you must fulfill your commitment to the first commitment), and was just plain old fashioned fun.

At the end of the day each of the youth said they felt more comfortable as babysitters, and felt better prepared to help others in an emergency. The group voted to make this an annual event, and are looking forward to being able to babysit for you in the near future.

Our Pride in Aggie

Our own Aggie Rogers received the "Pride in Lumberton" Award Monday Night at the Lumberton City Council Meeting. Councilman John Cantey, Jr. Presented Aggie with the award for her role in organizing a community day over Memorial Day weekend.

Councilman Cantey praised Aggie for all her hard work to make the community better, and talked about her work with 4-H clubs and giving youth opportunities to better their lives. In the audience to see Aggie get her award were her sisters Addie Mae Caple and Bessie Jones, her daughter in law Gwen Rogers, her grandson Reece, 4-H volunteers Marilyn Merritt and Larry Russ as well as Shea Ann DeJarnette.

Everyone is so happy for Aggie who truly deserves this award. If you see her don't forget to congratulate her, or you can e-mail your congratulations to Aggie_Rogers@ncsu.edu.

Way to go Aggie!

The Power of YOUth

This morning three very well dressed, and extremely well educated, 4-H members headed to Raleigh for our state 4-H North Carolina Citizenship Focus program. This is a two fold program. It introduces 4-H members to how laws and policies are created and passed, gives them a front row look at government, and allows them to market their local 4-H programs to state lawmakers.

Christian McRae, Korina Pittman, and Christopher Bullard accompanied our own Aggie Rogers to Raleigh for the three day event. As part of the event all four met with local lawmakers and shared with them the importance of 4-H in their local communities, issues that they as youth would like to address and learned about how the lawmakers handle things in Raleigh.

All three also created an action plan which they will bring back to Robeson County to implement. They were each asked to pick topics that they feel passionately about and create a way to address the issues within their communities, as well as create adult and youth partnerships.

It is a fantastic program for 4-H members. If you would like more information about this annual program or how to get involved please contact the 4-H office at (910) 671-3276.

The "Dirty Dozen" is all Wet

The members of the "Dirty Dozen" 4-H Shooting Sports Club met at the range today for their monthly meeting. Club members started working from ground level, learning how to balance their rifles and adjust their sites to hit the target. After a little practice club members took on their mothers, and 4-H Agent.

The ladies got a quick lesson, and for those who had never shot a rifle before it was a unique experience. The ladies hit the deck and took aim with a fairly decent showing. However after a practice round the youth claimed the win in this impromptu shooting competition. Not to worry the ladies will be ready for round two.

After the fun of competition the youth went back to the firing line to get a little green and wet. The club recycled some plastic water bottles that their club leader filled with 4-H green water. The bottles were hung from the target cables with twine and the challenge was on. As the youth aimed for the bottles to hit and empty them, the club leader aimed for the string to see if he could drop the bottle and let it explode on impact. At the end of the competition all the bottles were empty and the youth were amazed by the impact the bullets had on the bottles they were aiming at.

The next "Dirty Dozen" meeting will be July 10. For more information about this club please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu.

Making Memories

It is a blur of colorful scenes, smiles, laughing, and stories galore of fun times and and amazing adventures. The lucky few who volunteered to work on the county scrapbook are having the opportunity of a lifetime. They get to not only tell stories of their incredible 4-H experiences through photos but also hear about others great adventures as we come across the photos. Christopher Bullard and Korina Pittman have both worked on the scrapbook while Libby Burney came in with her cricket to do extraordinary things. This group also got help from Aggie Rogers and Shea Ann DeJarnette as they worked to help print pictures and put together pages.

Since there was so much work left to be done on the county scrapbook Libby Burney offered to dedicate her club meetings this month to getting the book done. Her club members have been coming in and putting together some incredible pages. It may be the most detailed scrapbook ever.

Thank you to everyone who has worked on this incredible piece and we will be able to unveil it at District Activity Day in Lee County June 24th. After it has been judged you can come in and view it in the waiting area of our Robeson County Extension office. Good luck to everyone and thank you for your hard work.